People with learning disabilities in Rugby who want to look for voluntary or paid work are being given a helping hand thanks to the Heart of England Co-operative Society’s Helping Hearts fund.

The society has given two grants of £250 each to two projects run by Rugby-based charity New Directions, which was established 60 years ago by local parents of children with learning disabilities.

The grants will pay for computers and activity equipment.

Laura Nisbet, registered care manager at New Directions, said: “The computers will assist service users with applications for voluntary and paid employment. It will open more doors for people. I’m sure there will be a queue of people waiting to use them. We are very grateful for the support.”